General News

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27089, 11 July 1953, Page 6

General News

Bakers Complain at Slimming Bakers today appealed to doctors to “go easy on” forbidding bread to slimming patients. The International Congress of Master Bakers said bread consumption was declining seriously, and unnecessary restriction of bread to healthy people would harm bakers. —The Hague, July 9. Pipi Soup for Export Pipi soup may soon be exported to the United States. A big Wellington company is understood to be negotiating for the rights to take pipis from the Paikakariki-Paraparaumu area. The fields on these beaches are not protected for Maori use, and if the licence is granted, the pipis would be canned and exported. An Australian company is already making soupfrom pipis and exporting it to America.— (P.A.) Otaki Scholar This year’s Otaki- Scholar, William David Mackay, head boy of Robert Gordon College, Aberdeen, will arrive at Wellington in the Rangitoto next Thursday. The Otaki Shield and Scholarship is awarded each year at the college, in memory of an old boy, Lieutenant A. Bissett-Smith, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in defending the ship Otaki against a German raider in the First World War. William Mackay will spend about six weeks touring New Zealand. —(P.A.) Scarlet Fever Outbreak Scarlet fever is now prevalent in Wellington and the Hutt Valley. The outbreak, though not very serious, is the biggest since the epidemic of 194345, when there were 3500 patients. So far this year, about 600 cases had been reported, the district Medical Officer of Health (Dr. J. P. Kennedy) said yesterday. That could not be taken as the final figure, because many more than that number had been affected, but had not been admitted to hospital. The average number of cases reported in the district each year is from 100 to 200.—(P.A.) Bacon Prices A surplus of shoulder bacon in the North Island has caused a reduction of 3Jd per lb in the wholesale price m Auckland, it was announced recently, but no similar reduction was expected in the South Island, said the manager of a Christchurch curing firm yesterday. The retail price in Auckland for shoulder bacon was 3s 4d per lb before the reduction, but some retailers had been selling it for as low as 2s 6d. The new retail price is not yet known.

Bitumen Workers’ Dispute Bitumen workers of the Wellington City Council returned to work yesterday morning after refusing work since Wednesday morning. The men agreed to resume pending a meeting between the Mayor (Mr R. L. Macalister), who is chairman of the council’s works committee, and the president of the Federation of Labour (Mr F. P. Walsh), in his capacity as president of the Wellington Trades Council. The men are claiming a higher special payment for bitumen work.—(P.A.)

Dredging Programme off Tauranga The Marine Department’s suction dredge, Eileen Ward, reached Tauranga yesterday morning from Westport. She will be used to dredge the site for the new wharf under construction at Mount Maunganui, and will possibly undertake dredging at the entrance to the Tauranga harbour, and near the Tauranga town wharf. The dredge is expected to remain at Tauranga for five or six week under contract to the Ministry of Works, which is in charge of the port development scheme. The Eileen Ward is commanded by Captain J. J. Carlsen, and carries a crew of 20. She was built in Paisley, Scotland, for the New Zealand Government in 1909.—(P.A.) Anonymous Telephone Call

The Auckland police are still seeking a man who last week telephoned Sir John Allum, Mayor of Auckland, and used abusive language. The man called him at his Curran street, Heme Bay, home, four times within an hour, Sir John Allum said. He answered the first call, and Lady Allum the others. Sir John Allum said that when the man telephoned the fourth time, he was asked to call again in 10 minutes. The police were then notified and a trap was set. The man did not ring again. The anonymous caller seemed to Sir John Allum to be sober, and spoke with no distinguishing accent. Naval Baptismal Fonts

A ship’s bell from the Flower class corvette Arabis is to be used as a baptismal font in the chapel at H.M.N.Z.S. Tamaki, at Auckland. The naval wireless station H.M.N.Z.S. Irirangi is to use the bell from the corvette Arbutus for a similar purpose. The Arabis and Arbutus were presented to the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1944 and served on the station for four years before being returned to Britain. They were replaced by the present frigates. The bells were brought to the Dominion in H.M.N.Z.S. Bellona on her return from her last cruise to Britain. Otira Gorge Route

The Otira Gorge route to the West Coast, which was closed on Thursday “because of recurring slips at Candy's bend, was reopened to traffic yesterday.—(F.O.O.R.)